Metropolitan area employment and unemployment, October 2011

December 08, 2011

Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 281 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 76 areas, and unchanged in 15 areas. Eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 21 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent.

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The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in October was registered in Muskegon-Norton Shores, Michigan (−2.6 percentage points), followed by El Centro, California; Farmington, New Mexico; and Flint, Michigan (−2.5 points each). Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, Washington, reported the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase (+1.7 percentage points), followed by Yakima, Washington (+1.3 points); Pascagoula, Mississippi (+1.3 points); and Jacksonville, North Carolina (+1.2 points).

From October 2010 to October 2011, 233 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 133 reported decreases, and 6 had no change.

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The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment was reported in Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois (+6.5 percent), followed by Hot Springs, Arkansas (+6.2 percent), and Victoria, Texas (+5.5 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment were reported in Missoula, Montana (−5.4 percent), Abilene, Texas (−5.2 percent), and Dalton, Georgia (−4.7 percent).

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics programs. The most recent month's employment data are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment — October 2011" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-11-1717.